NC State University and the United States Army have signed a Regional Intergovernmental Support Agreement (R-IGSA), establishing a new strategic partnership designed to strengthen innovation, workforce development and collaboration across a range of disciplines.
The agreement builds on NC State’s long history of working with the U.S. military and creates new opportunities for the university and Army to address complex, real-world challenges.
Under the R-IGSA, NC State will provide support to the Army in areas including natural resource management and infrastructure sustainment. The agreement also provides a broader framework for the two organizations to identify emerging needs and develop solutions together more efficiently.
“At NC State, our land-grant mission has always driven us to create practical solutions that make a real impact,” said NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell. “We are proud to expand the university’s longstanding relationship with the Army through this new agreement. With a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation and service, we have an opportunity to bring together expertise from across NC State to address complex challenges, strengthen our workforce and create solutions that benefit North Carolina and beyond.”
The partnership was formalized during an Aug. 10 ceremony at NC State, where university and Army leaders signed a joint proclamation and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.
“Our military installations are complex environments that require innovative, forward-thinking solutions to maintain peak readiness,” said Col. Luke Wittmer, Garrison Commander of Fort Bragg. “This agreement with NC State allows us to directly tap into top-tier academic expertise. By working closely together we not only improve the quality of life for our Soldiers and their families, but we also strengthen the enduring bond between the Army and the state of North Carolina.”
The R-IGSA establishes a flexible, university-wide framework for NC State and the Army to collaborate across disciplines and move more efficiently toward solutions. Initial focus areas include working with Fort Bragg on habitat restoration and evaluation, as well as facility design needs. As shared priorities emerge, the agreement allows for expanded collaboration into additional areas with faculty, staff and students across NC State’s colleges, departments, institutes and centers.
North Carolina ranks among the top states for total active-duty military personnel and veteran population. Fort Bragg – the nation’s largest military installation and home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces – spans 250 square miles across Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Moore counties. The installation supports more than 260,000 people, including active-duty soldiers, family members and civilian employees. While the new agreement strengthens engagement with North Carolina military bases, it also enables NC State to meet Army needs throughout the continental United States.
The R-IGSA is the latest milestone in NC State’s decades of collaboration with the nation’s defense community. A designated military-friendly institution, the university educates veterans, works with military partners and drives defense and national security research.
Read the original article on the NC State University website.